Chapter 21
“Lord Ronen.”
Ethan urgently looked around and opened the door to the empty prayer room.
“What if someone hears you?”
You can criticize even royalty when they’re not around—what’s the big deal about badmouthing a marquis?
Still, if anyone overheard and started spreading rumors, it could damage the High Priest’s reputation, which would be troublesome.
Unlike the anxious Ethan, Ronen didn’t care at all.
“He knew full well Sienna was sick, and he still did that. You expect me to speak nicely? I’m fuming inside.”
Ronen pounded his chest in frustration.
“From the moment he threw Sienna away like a used rag right after achieving his goal and started seeing another woman—I didn’t like him one bit.”
“Pardon…?”
“I guess you didn’t know. It was Sienna who made him a marquis. If it weren’t for Winter’s influence, how could a bastard become a marquis when the legitimate heir was still alive?”
Ethan’s mouth dropped open in shock at the revelation.
“And yet that marquis, instead of repaying the favor, dumped a sick Sienna and showed up to receive blessings with another woman. I was so appalled.”
If Sienna hadn’t grabbed Daphne by the hair first, Ronen said he would’ve had a few words himself and could hardly contain his anger.
“So that man knew Sienna was this sick…”
“There’s no way he didn’t. They were childhood friends. He’s seen her since they were little—he must’ve known.”
That’s what made it more infuriating, Ronen added with a crumpled expression.
“Of course she’s mad. Her fiancé cheated on her. What’s so wrong with her being sick that people pointed fingers like that? It’s like they were possessed or something…”
Ethan, who had been one of those finger-pointing people, shut his mouth quietly.
‘Right… No matter what kind of trouble she caused or how badly she behaved, she was the victim in that situation. So why did we all treat her like she was the villain…?’
Now that he thought about it, it didn’t make sense.
Rio Maze and Daphne Roxy were the perpetrators. Sienna Winter was the victim. So why did everyone defend Daphne and blame Sienna?
A question arose. As Ronen saw the confusion on Ethan’s face, he gently patted his shoulder.
“But I’m glad. You cleared up the misunderstanding and became close. Be her support—she’s a lonely child.”
“…Yes.”
Even after Ronen left, Ethan remained in the prayer room for a long time, lost in thought.
Haah—this is exhausting.
After entrusting Ethan, who insisted on returning to the temple, to Helaith, I collapsed onto my bed as soon as I got back to my room.
“Sienna! Why’d you go so easy on him?!”
Ban pouted, slapping the bed with his short arms.
“You should’ve let me hit him more! I got beaten to a pulp, remember?!”
“If you had, Ethan might’ve actually tried to kill you. He’s not exactly mild-tempered.”
“Right. That guy’s basically Satan…”
Ban’s shoulders trembled at the memory of being hit by Ethan.
“But seriously, what’s with Noah and Ethan? Why doesn’t brainwashing work on them?”
“There are people like that. If someone has ridiculously strong mental resilience, brainwashing doesn’t work well. They’re that type.”
Noah, a sword master, and Ethan, the future High Priest—those two were on a different level than ordinary humans.
“Yeah… I guess it makes sense now.”
Just as I was blankly staring at the ceiling and blinking, Ban suddenly shrieked and shook me.
“Sienna! Your wrist!”
My wrist was swollen red with mottled bruises.
“Huh? Oh… I figured this would happen when he grabbed me like a brute.”
Clicking my tongue and brushing it off, Ban bounced up like a spring.
“I’ll treat it!”
“You? Can you even use healing magic like Helaith?”
“Nope!”
Ban flew over to the vanity, wings fluttering, and brought back an emergency medical kit.
‘Maybe he’s acting sweet because I saved him from Ethan?’
Ban sat in front of me and opened the kit, blinking nervously at the overwhelming number of supplies.
“So, this is…”
“That’s for cuts. This one’s for bruises.”
Before I even finished pointing to the white bottle, Ban had already unscrewed the cap and squeezed a generous amount of cream onto my hand.
“Ugh. This stuff is sticky…”
“Told you to let me do it.”
“No way!”
Watching the tiny ball of fluff rub the ointment into my wrist with intense concentration was adorable.
The only issue was that more ointment seemed to be soaking into Ban than my actual skin.
‘Washing him later is going to be a pain…’
Still, it was sweet that he was looking after me like a proper master.
‘I really need to stop him now…’
Just then, Helaith returned.
“What are you doing?”
“Ban’s putting ointment on me.”
Helaith finally noticed the bruise and frowned, muttering darkly.
“Should’ve just buried him.”
“Don’t say scary things.”
“I agree with Helaith!”
“Ban, don’t act up in front of Ethan again. I won’t be able to save you next time.”
While I was bickering with Ban, Helaith returned from washing his hands and sat down in front of me.
“Move.”
As Helaith pushed him aside, Ban rolled to the floor and started flailing.
“I was doing it first!”
“Is that applying it or wiping it all off?”
Fair point. I nodded in agreement.
Helaith wiped off the thick layer of cream and gently rubbed my wrist with skilled hands.
“Does it hurt?”
“When you press on it.”
“Want me to heal it?”
“It’s fine. The bruise will be gone by tomorrow.”
It just looked worse because I had sensitive skin—nothing serious.
As long as I applied the ointment properly and got good rest, it would heal quickly.
“Relying too much on magic isn’t good anyway, so—”
Just then, a warm sensation wrapped around my wrist.
“Helaith?”
“I’m not fine with it.”
The bruise disappeared without a trace.
Though perfectly healed, Helaith didn’t let go of my hand. He just stared at the spot where the bruise had been.
“It bothers me.”
“Huh? What does?”
“That someone else left a mark on your body.”
He answered slowly, brushing the spot with his thumb.
“You erased it. It’s gone now.”
“…True.”
Still, he stroked my wrist a few more times, seemingly satisfied.
“Sienna, if you ever get hurt, don’t hide it—tell me right away.”
“I didn’t exactly hide it…”
I didn’t even realize I was hurt. As I muttered defensively, Helaith gently stroked the back of my hand.
“I’m really jealous. So if I find out too late, like now…”
His unfinished sentence felt ominous.
“If you find out…?”
“I might be so sad I end up killing the bastard who hurt you.”
Sad? Then why kill someone?
I shut my mouth, unnerved. Helaith lightly shook my wrist, urging an answer.
“Say it.”
“…Okay.”
Realizing he’d probably hold my hand forever unless I answered, I gave in. Helaith smiled, finally releasing my hand.
“Then rest well.”
“Huh? You’re leaving already?”
“I need to wash this guy. Can’t have him rolling around my room like a poop-smeared mutt.”
“Poop-smeared mutt?! I am the great—!”
“Shut up.”
Helaith clamped Ban’s mouth shut and grabbed him by the scruff.
‘He’s really leaving? That’s new…’
I stared at him in surprise, and as he packed up the medical kit, he sighed.
“You look at me like that, and I almost don’t want to leave.”
“What did I do?”
“You really don’t know?”
Blinking in confusion, Helaith gently tapped my cheek and smiled.
“You look like you don’t want to be apart from me.”
“Your eyesight must be worse than I thought.”
I swatted his hand away. Helaith just shrugged.
“Both eyes are 20/20.”
“Doubt it. Get re-checked.”
No way he’s seeing clearly with those delusions.
I shook my head and waved my hand.
“Hurry up and leave.”
“Alright, see you in class tomorrow.”
“Let me go! I’m staying with Sienna!”
“Get some rest.”
After Helaith left, silence fell over the room. I curled up.
‘I looked like I didn’t want him to go? Me?’
I muttered, hugging my wrist.
“No way…”
My cheek—and my wrist, where his hand had been—still felt hot, like I’d been burned.
